WO2014177445A1

WO2014177445A1 - Chair with seat mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2014177445A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/058321
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ekkehard STRIEN
Original assignee: Phoenix Design Gmbh + Co. Kg
Priority date: 2013-05-03
Filing date: 2014-04-24
Publication date: 2014-11-06
Also published as: DE102013208178B4; DE102013208178A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a chair, comprising a foot part (1), a base support (2) mounted on the foot part, a seat part (3) mounted on the base support, a backrest (4) and a seat mechanism. In the chair according to the invention, the seat mechanism is designed to connect the backrest to a rear region of the seat part so as to be pivotably displaceable about a first horizontal transversal axis (5a) and to the base support so as to be pivotably displaceable about a second horizontal transversal axis (7a) and to connect the backrest to the base support so as to be pivotably displaceable about a horizontal longitudinal axis (9a), wherein the ability of the backrest to pivot about the horizontal longitudinal axis is decoupled from the ability of the backrest to pivot about the second horizontal transversal axis. The chair may be used as an office chair.

Description

Chair with seat mechanism

The invention relates to a chair with a foot part, a base support held on the foot part, a seat part held on the base support, a backrest and a seat mechanism. In particular, this can be an office chair in the present case. The seat mechanism is known to hold the seat part and / or the backrest relative to each other to move and / or movable coupled to the typically rigidly held to the base support.

Especially in office chairs, the ergonomics and dynamics of sitting are in the spotlight. For this purpose, a variety of seat mechanisms have already been proposed to make the seat part and / or the backrest individually or coupled as a whole or in parts so that the chair supports the user sitting on him in different postures as well as possible and follow him in different movements as well as possible for example leaning backwards and tilting sideways. Corresponding seat mechanisms have been described e.g. under the slogans synchronous mechanics and three-dimensional sitting develop.

In the published patent application DE 10 201 1 051 966 A1 discloses a chair with a synchronous mechanism is disclosed in which a seat plate in two separately movable seat plate parts and the backrest in two separately movable backrest supports, wherein the backrest supports cross with the seat plate parts in the sense of a synchronous movement are connected. In the published patent application DE 10 2007 002 284 A1 a chair with a seat part and a seat mechanism is disclosed, which allows a lateral pivoting movement of the seat part such that one side of the seat part is movable independently of another side of the seat part. This is caused by a distortion of the seat part, which may be superimposed pivoting and / or twisting a backrest of the chair. The utility model DE 20 2007 001 395 U 1 discloses a chair with a seat mechanism that holds a seat part and a backrest synchronously movable on a base support, wherein the backrest is hinged about a horizontal transverse axis to the rear pivotally on the base support and the seat part via a double joint such hinged to the base support that it performs a backward upward pivoting movement when pivoting the backrest to the rear. The invention is based on the technical problem of providing a chair of the type mentioned above, which allows the user a further optimized dynamic sitting and whose seat mechanism can be realized with relatively little effort for this purpose.

The invention solves this problem by providing a chair having the features of claim 1. In this chair, the seat mechanism is adapted to pivotally connect the seat back to a rear portion of the seat portion about a first horizontal transverse axis to pivotally connect a second horizontal transverse axis to the base support and pivotally connect to the base support about a horizontal longitudinal axis the pivoting mobility of the backrest about the horizontal longitudinal axis, which may in particular be a local horizontal longitudinal axis, is decoupled from the pivoting movement of the backrest about the second horizontal transverse axis.

This seat mechanism provides with comparatively little effort an ergonomically optimized dynamic sitting on the chair available, in particular a so-called three-dimensional sitting, in which the backrest can be tilted about a horizontal pivot axis back and while the seat is synchronously mitverschwenkt about a likewise horizontal pivot axis and in which additionally the backrest and at least one rear area of the seat part can be tilted laterally. The seat mechanism allows the lateral tilting movement of the backrest and at least the rear seat section area to be decoupled from the other movement possibilities, such as tilting the backrest backwards. This includes the ability to lock the lateral tilting separately and adjust with desired adjustment forces or restoring forces.

It should be noted here that the directional and positional designations used herein refer to a normal starting / use position of the chair in which this is on a horizontal floor and the backrest and the seat part are in a non-pivoted basic position. The horizontal longitudinal direction represents the horizontal connecting line between the front and back, the horizontal transverse direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. The term "horizontal" here comprises both directions and axes which lie exactly in a horizontal plane, as well as directions and axes which have a horizontal main direction component and a comparatively smaller vertical direction component and therefore do not lie exactly in a horizontal plane "Local horizontal longitudinal axis" is to be understood in the present case that it is not necessarily a respect to the chair stationary remaining horizontal longitudinal axis, but this longitudinal axis, by which the backrest relative to the base support can be tilted sideways, move with this tilting movement of the backrest can. In corresponding embodiments of the invention, the seat mechanism includes as means for pivotally articulating the backrest on the base support to the local horizontal pivot axis elastic support means over which the backrest on opposite lateral side areas elastically pivotally supported on the base support, or an exactly or approximately longitudinally arranged pivot joint or a link guide. This represents structurally advantageous embodiments for the provision of this seat mechanism functionality.

In a further development of the invention, the seat mechanism is further configured to pivotally connect a front region of the seat part to the base carrier by a third horizontal transverse axis. As a result, the front seat portion can advantageously be moved relative to the base support, e.g. be lent backwards or forward again synchronously with the pivoting of the backrest. In one embodiment of this measure, the seat mechanism is designed to pivot the front seat portion backwards down when the backrest is pivoted from its initial position to the rear. In an advantageous constructive implementation of this measure, the seat mechanism includes a double joint or a slotted guide for pivotally articulating the front seat portion of the base support.

In a further development of the invention, the seat mechanism is configured such that the second horizontal transverse axis lies behind a vertical support of the foot part and has a smaller distance therefrom than the third horizontal transverse axis. This represents a favorable coordination of the transverse axis pivoting mobility of the backrest and seat part to the rear or front. In a development of the invention, the seat mechanism is configured such that the second horizontal transverse axis lies at a lower level than the third horizontal transverse axis. This can also contribute to an advantageous vote of the seat part movement to the rear or front to the tilting movement of the backrest to the rear and back again.

In a development of the invention, the seat mechanism is configured in such a way that the local horizontal longitudinal axis is at a level below that of the first horizontal transverse axis and above that of the second horizontal transverse axis. Also, this interpretation aspect of the seat mechanism can contribute to an optimal ergonomic dynamic sitting on the chair.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described below. Hereby show: 1 is a schematic side view of a chair in a starting position with articulated lateral tilting mobility of the backrest,

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the chair of FIG. 1 without a lower foot portion; FIG.

3 is a schematic rear view of the chair of FIG. 1 without a lower foot portion; FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the chair of FIG. 1 without a lower foot portion;

5 shows the side view of FIG. 1 without lower foot part region with the backrest position tilted backwards, FIG.

FIG. 6 combines the side views of FIGS. 1 and 5, without a lower foot portion, FIG.

3 in laterally tilted backrest position, FIG. 8 shows the front view of FIG. 5 in laterally tilted backrest position, FIG.

9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 without lower Fußteilbereich for a chair variant with backdrop-guided lateral tilting mobility of the backrest,

10 is a schematic rear view corresponding to FIG. 3 for the chair variant of FIG. 9,

10 is a rear view of FIG. 10 in laterally tilted backrest position, FIG. 12 is a schematic side view corresponding to FIG. 9 for a further chair variant with elastic support means for the side tiltable backrest articulation, FIG.

13 shows the rear view of FIG. 10 for the chair variant of FIG. 12, FIG.

Fig. 14 shows the rear view of FIG. 13 in laterally tilted backrest position and

FIG. 15 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 1 without lower foot part region for a further chair variant.

In FIGS. 1 to 8, a chair which can be used in particular as an office chair in a first embodiment according to the invention is schematic with its components of interest in the present case illustrated, in which Figs. 1 to 4 show it in a normal basic position. The chair comprises in a conventional manner a foot part 1 with a central vertical support 1 a and a plurality of the lower end region radially outwardly extending radially outwardly horizontal supports 1 b, which carry at their radially outer end in each case a chair roller 1 c. At the upper end of the vertical support 1 a of the foot part 1, a base support 2 is held, on which in turn a seat part 3 is held, which forms a seat surface of the chair. The vertical support 1 a may be constructed in the usual design of telescopically against each other longitudinally displaceable and rotatable pipe support parts to allow height adjustment and a twisting availability of the seat part 3 about a vertical longitudinal axis of the vertical support 1 a. The chair further includes a movable backrest 4 and a special seat mechanism to allow for the backrest 4 and the seat part 3 movements that allow the user a three-dimensional, ergonomic dynamic sitting. For this purpose, the seat mechanism comprises a plurality of connections, each allowing a pivoting movement of the associated parts. Thus, the backrest 4 is connected via a pivot joint 5 about an associated first horizontal transverse axis 5a pivotally connected to a rear portion 3a of the seat part 3. The pivot 5 is located directly on the underside of the rear seat portion 3a, and the backrest 4 is hinged thereto via a substantially horizontal extension 4a, which extends from an underside of a substantially vertical backrest portion 4b forward to the pivot joint 5.

In addition, the backrest 4 is coupled via a backrest support 6 to a pivot joint 7, which connects the backrest support 6 and thus the backrest 4 in total to an associated second horizontal transverse axis 7 a pivotally connected to the base support 2. The pivot joint 7 is located a short distance behind the vertical support 1 a, ie see between the vertical support 1 a and the seat back defined by the backrest 4 with a shorter distance to the vertical support 1 a as the backrest part 4b. The backrest support 6 extends as shown from the underside of the backrest part 4b under the leading to the seat part base extension 4a forward and obliquely down to the pivot joint 7 on the base support 2. Further, the seat mechanism comprises a pivot joint 8, with the seat part 3 in a front, ie, the backrest 4 facing away from area 3b is hinged about an associated third horizontal transverse axis 8a pivotally mounted on a front end portion of the base support 2. In the example shown, the pivot joint 8 is designed as a double joint, whose both hinge points are in the basic position of the chair shown in Fig. 1 on a substantially vertical line, ie one above the other. The double joint 8 is like the pivot joint 5 on the underside of the seat part 3 at a horizontal level higher than that of the pivot joint 7. The relative to the pivot joint 7 higher position of the double joint 8 results from an obliquely forward upward course of the base support. 2 ,

The seat mechanism also has a pivot joint 9, by which the backrest 4 is pivotally connected about an associated horizontal longitudinal axis 9a with the backrest support 6 and thereby with the base support 2. This allows lateral tilting movements of the backrest 4.

From the described structure of the seat mechanism it can be seen that the lateral tilting mobility of the backrest 4 relative to the base support 2 about the horizontal longitudinal axis 9a is completely decoupled from the inclination mobility of the backrest 4 relative to the base support 2 about the second horizontal transverse axis 7a. This movement decoupling is clear from FIGS. 5 to 8 and advantageously supports dynamic three-dimensional sitting.

Fig. 5 shows the chair in a relation to the initial or basic position of Fig. 1 tilted backwards or inclined position of the backrest 4. This back tilting of the backrest 4 is effected by pivoting the same about the pivot axis 7a on the pivot joint 7. The seat part 3 is taken by the articulation on the pivot joint 5 of this pivotal movement of the backrest 4, wherein its articulated on the backrest extension 4a rear portion 3a performs a combined movement backwards and downwards. In this case, also occurs a certain pivoting of the backrest 4 relative to the rear seat portion 3a around the horizontal pivot axis 5a, which causes a change in an opening angle α between the backrest 4 and the seat part 3 when tilting the backrest 4 to the rear or forward again, especially a desired enlargement of this opening angle α when leaning back the backrest. 4

The described displacement of the rear seat portion 3a when pivoting the backrest 4 to the rear or front is transmitted to the front seat portion 3b, which thereby performs a pivoting movement about the double joint 8 relative to the base support 2. This results in the front seat portion 3b not only being displaced rearward when the backrest 4 is tilted back, but also slightly lowered. Fig. 6 shows in superimposed view the chair with solid lines in the basic position of Fig. 1 and dashed lines in the tilted by a tilt angle ß backwards backrest position of Fig. 5. It is directly recognizable that and how with the tilting back the backrest 4 of the opening angle α between the seat part 3 and the backrest 4 magnifies and the seat part assumes a slightly inclined backwards position in which it is lowered relative to the basic position not only in the rear area 3a, but also in the front area 3b rear area 3a slightly more than in the front area 3b. The lowering of the seat part 3 in its leading edge region 3b is effected in that the double joint 8 is pivoted by its in the chair base position about vertical position by the displacement of the seat part 3 to the rear in a contrast oblique position, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is apparent.

7 and 8 show the chair in a position with laterally about the horizontal longitudinal axis 9a on the pivot joint 9 by a tilt angle γ tilted position of the backrest 4. Since the rear seat portion 3a via the pivot joint 5 with the horizontal pivot axis 5a in this lateral tilting direction is firmly connected to the horizontal backrest extension 4a and thereby with the backrest 4 in total, he is taken away from the lateral tilting movement of the backrest 4. In contrast, the front seat portion 3b remains on the double joint 8 without lateral tilting on the base support 2 is maintained. The lateral backrest tilting consequently results in a corresponding torsion of the seat part 3, with the result that its rear area 3a slopes downwards on the side towards which the backrest 4 is tilted. This lateral tilting movement of the chair, especially the backrest 4 and the rear seat portion portion 3a, can be seen completely decoupled from the above-described tilting movement to the rear. This contributes to the desired three-dimensional dynamic seating behavior of the chair. In addition, the lateral tilting movement can be locked separately from the other possibilities of movement of the chair and adjusted in each required force. The same applies vice versa for the independence of the tilting movement of the chair to the rear or front relative to the lateral tilting movement.

Figs. 9 to 1 1 illustrate a variant of the chair of Figs. 1 to 8, wherein for identical and functionally equivalent elements for ease of understanding the same reference numerals are selected and insofar reference can be made to the above description of the chair of Figs. 1-8 , The chair of Figs. 9 to 1 1 differs from the chair of Figs. 1 to 8 by another realization of the pivoting of the backrest 4 about a horizontal longitudinal axis 10a, ie the lateral Lehnenkippbewegung. In the case of the chair of FIGS. 9 to 11, the chair mechanism modified in this respect includes a slotted guide 10 instead of the real swivel joint 9 of the chair of FIGS. 1 to 8. The slotted guide 10 is mounted in a pivoting manner. formed element 1 1, which connects the underside of the backrest 4 with the rear end portion of the backrest support 6 in this example. The slide guide 10 includes an arcuate slide track 10b and engaging in this gate roller unit 10c, wherein one of the two parts which is rigidly connected to the backrest 4 and the other with the backrest support 6, for example, the guide roller unit 10c with the backrest support 6 and the slide track 10b , which may be formed in particular as a sliding groove, on the backrest. 4

The result of this slide guide 10 is that, in this exemplary embodiment, the horizontal longitudinal axis 10a, by which the backrest 4 can be tilted laterally, passes through the center point of the circle defined by the guide arc 10b. The horizontal longitudinal axis 10a thus forms, in this case, a virtual pivot axis provided by the slotted guide 10 for the lateral tilting of the backrest 4 and the rear seat section 3a coupled with it in this lateral tilting movement. This virtual pivot axis 10a for the lateral backrest tilting movement in this example is higher than the pivot axis defined by the pivot 9 9a of the chair of Fig. 1 to 8. While the longitudinal axis 9a of the pivot joint 9 in the chair of Fig. 1 to 8 slightly below the level the seat part 3 and its articulation on the backrest 4 by the transverse axis pivot joint 5 is located, the virtual Seitenkipp pivot axis 10a in the chair of Fig. 9 to 1 1 above the level of the pivot joint 5 approximately at the height level of the seat part 3. A Positioning of the virtual pivot axis 10a at the height of the seat part 3 or just above it is advantageous since the lateral tilting movement of the chair is then as close as possible to the biomechanical pivot axis of a person sitting on the chair. In addition, this minimizes lateral movement of the seat part 3 in the lateral tilting movement. The exact position of the virtual pivot axis 10a can be controlled via the design of the slotted guide 10 and in particular the slide track 10b.

FIGS. 12 to 14 illustrate a further variant of the chair of FIGS. 1 to 8, wherein in turn identical and functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals and to this extent reference can be made to the above explanations to FIGS. 1 to 8. The chair of FIGS. 12 to 14 differs from the chair of FIGS. 1 to 8 in yet another embodiment of the pivotable articulation of the backrest 4 on the base support 2 and on the backrest support 6 extending backwards for the lateral tilting of the backrest 4 by a local one virtual horizontal longitudinal axis. In the case of the chair of FIGS. 12 to 14, the seat mechanism modified for this purpose has elastic support means 12, via which the backrest 4 is elastically supported on the base support 2 or the backrest support 6 on opposite lateral side areas. Schematically, two corresponding spring elements 12a, 12b are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 for this purpose. The elastic see support means 12 and the two spring elements 12a, 12b are designed so that by lateral displacement of a person sitting on the chair, the lateral tilting of the backrest 4 and the rear seat portion 3a on the loaded side down, while the opposite Page is prevented from moving upwards. As a result, the lateral tilting movement of the chair, ie the backrest 4 and the rear seat part area 3a, comes very close to the biomechanical movement of a person sitting on the chair. For this purpose, the spring elements 12a, 12b, for example, be gas springs whose maximum length is limited by a wire rope or in another conventional manner. Alternatively, the elastic support means may be constituted by torsion springs and technical elements laterally disposed therefrom, which prevent upward movement of the backrest 4 and the rear seat portion 3a when tilted sideways.

With these elastic support means 12, the seat mechanism in this exemplary embodiment thus provides for the lateral backrest tilting movement a virtual horizontal longitudinal axis similar to the virtual horizontal longitudinal axis 10a of the chair of FIGS. 9 to 11, but in contrast to the latter during lateral movement Lehnen tilting movement in their position changes. In other words, the seat mechanism in this embodiment provides the horizontal longitudinal axis 12a for lateral backrest tilting movement as a local virtual horizontal longitudinal axis which shifts downward with increasing lateral tilting of the backrest 4 in a substantially vertical line as the backrest 4 and the rear seat portion 3a on the loaded side downwards tilt, while the opposite side area remains approximately at the same level and does not shift upwards. This variant of the seat mechanism comes especially close to the biomechanical movements of a person sitting on the chair.

FIG. 15 illustrates another chair according to the invention as a variant of one of the chairs of FIGS. 1 to 14, such as the chair of FIGS. 9 to 11. The chair of FIG. 15 has a modified seat mechanism, in which the couplings of the seat part 3 in the rear area 3a to the backrest 4 and in the front area 3b to the base support 2 are respectively realized by pivot means 13, 14, which act as transverse axes provide virtual horizontal pivot axes 13a and 14a, respectively. For this purpose, in this example, the rear seat portion 3a is coupled via a slotted guide 13 with the lower horizontal extension 4a of the backrest 4, which provides the virtual horizontal transverse axis 13a and in their design, for example, the top of the chair of Fig. 9 to 1 1 illustrated slide guide 10 correspond can. As shown, the virtual horizontal transverse axis 13a is preferably at or slightly above the height level of the seat part 3, which in turn is made to be comparatively close to the biomechanical pivot point of a person sitting on the chair.

Further, in the example of FIG. 15, the front seat portion 3b is coupled to the base support 2 via a slotted guide 14 which provides the associated virtual horizontal transverse axis 14a. In this case too, the position of the virtual horizontal transverse axis 14a can be controlled or set in a desired manner by appropriate design of the slotted guide 14.

As the illustrated and explained above embodiments clear, the invention provides a chair with a chair mechanism available, with which a comparatively small design effort can achieve a dynamic three-dimensional sitting, which corresponds very largely to the biomechanical conditions of the person sitting on the chair , The seat remains in the front area always horizontal, while the rear area of the lateral tilting movement follows the backrest. When leaning back, the seat is moved back and down. This leaves the seat depth, i. the distance between the front edge of the seat and the backrest is always about the same. In addition, the lowering of the seat front edge largely corresponds to the natural movement of the seated person. The chair may in particular be an office chair, but the invention can be used in the same way with the same functionalities and advantages also for other chair types. It is understood that the invention includes, in addition to the numerous other embodiments shown, i.a. Also, those in which the backrest and / or the seat part is constructed of a plurality of relatively movable parts or the seat part is integral with the backrest. Conventional chairs can be retrofitted by retrofitting with the seat mechanism chairs of the invention.

Claims

claims

1 . Chair, especially office chair, with

a foot part (1),

a base support (2) held on the foot part,

a seat part (3) held on the base support,

- A backrest (4) and

- A seat mechanism (5, 7, 8, 9) through which the backrest about a first horizontal transverse axis (5a) is pivotally connected to a rear portion (3a) of the seat part and about a second horizontal transverse axis (7a) pivotally connected to the base support (2) and is pivotally connected to the base support about a horizontal longitudinal axis (9a, 10a), wherein the pivotal movement of the seat back about the horizontal longitudinal axis is decoupled from the pivotal movement of the seat back about the second horizontal transverse axis.

2. Chair according to claim 1, further characterized in that the seat mechanism as a means for pivotally articulating the backrest on the base support about the horizontal pivot axis elastic support means (12) for resilient support of the backrest on the base support on opposite transverse side regions or a substantially longitudinally arranged pivot joint (9) or a slotted guide (10).

3. Chair according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the seat mechanism pivotally connects a front portion (3b) of the seat part about a third horizontal transverse axis (8a) with the base support.

4. Chair according to claim 3, further characterized in that the seat mechanism is adapted to pivot upon pivoting of the backrest from a starting position to the rear of the front seat part area to the rear bottom.

5. Chair according to claim 3 or 4, further characterized in that the seat mechanism includes a double joint (8) or a slotted guide (14) for pivotally articulating the front seat portion of the base support.

6. Chair according to one of claims 3 to 5, further characterized in that the second horizontal transverse axis is behind a vertical support (1 a) of the foot part and a smaller distance from this than the third horizontal transverse axis.

7. Chair according to one of claims 3 to 6, further characterized in that the second horizontal transverse axis is at a lower level than the third horizontal transverse axis.

8. Chair according to one of claims 1 to 7, further characterized in that the horizontal longitudinal axis is at a level below that of the first horizontal transverse axis and above that of the second horizontal transverse axis.